Cold gas carburetor and generator



. April 27, 1937. 7 P. HURLBURT A 2,078,250

GOLD GAS CARBURETOR AND GENERATOR Filed Jui 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /1v VENTOR Ge /7e 1 Hur/burf A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 27, 1937 I Z,07 8,250

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLD GAS CARBURETOR AND GENERATOR Gene P. Hurlburt, Los Angeles, Galifl, assigno'r to Maxwell Knowles, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 2, 1935, Serial a... 29,484

' 16 Claims. (Cl. 261-88) My invention relates to a carburetor, and gas Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view along the line generator for generating gas from hydrocarbon 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view fluids, such as gasoline, distillate, Diesel oil, alcoon an enlarged scale along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, ho! and other like fluids, without in any way and Fig. 4 a fragmentary sectional view along heating or raising the temperature of the fluid the line 44 of Fig. 3. during the treatment, and the objects of my in- Similar characters of reference refer tosimvention are: ilar parts and portions throughout the several First, to provide a carburetor and gas generviews of the drawings. ator ofthis class in which the fuels are completely The casing members I and 2, inlet bracket 3, 10. broken up and atomized in a partial vacuum by fuel nozzle 4, spiral turbine 5, rotor 6, fuel dismeans of velocity and impact before they are tributor spiral 1, fuel distributor radiating memmixed with the air on itsway to a point of combers 8, and butterfly valve 9,.constitute the prinbustion; cipal parts and portions of my cold gas car- Second, to provide a carburetor and gas genburetor. l5 erator of this class in which the fuel mixture The casing member I is:a shell like casing prois automatically controlled relative to the air flow vided with a reduced intermediate straight porthrough the carburetor and generator regardless tion la with an upper enlarged portion lb and of the varying speeds or loads; a lower enlarged portion la, and the lower end Third, to provide a carburetor and gas generof the enlarged portion is is provided with an ator of this class in which the fuel and air mixoutwardly extending annular flange I d which 20 ture is in proper proportion regardless of eleis provided with a plurality of perforations adaptvation, pressure or temperature variations; ed to receive the bolts le. Mounted in the upper Fourth, to provide a carburetor and gas genedge of the upper enlarged portion lb is the air erator of this class in which the gas may be genand fuel inlet bracket 3 which is supported in erated while --it is absolutely cold until it reaches the end of said casing l by means of screws 3a. a point of combustion; This bracket 3 is substantially spider in form pro- Fifth, to provide a carburetor and gas generator vided with a rim portion 312, a central portion 30, of this class in which the power derived from and connecting members 3d. One of the concombustion of the gas generated thereby is a, necting members, designated 3e, is enlarged and maximum in efilciency; raised relatively to the other members and serves 30 Sixth, to provide a carburetor and gas generas the inlet 3 for the fuel which comes from any ator of this class in which an engine's efliciency source and is controlled by a fuel control valve is increased to a large degree over the convenbefore it reaches the conductor portion 3f in the tional carburetors now in use; inlet bracket 3. This bracket is provided with a Seventh, to provide a carburetor and gas gen screw threaded portion 3g adapted to receive erator of this class which reduces thecarbon mona connection for the fuel conductor. The conoxide gas from combustion to a minimum; and ductor portion 3 is enlarged in its vertical por- Eighth, to provide a carburetor and gas gention in which is secured a nozzle member 4 preferator 'of this class which is simple and ecoerably by force'flt, and this nozzle member ex- 40 nomical of construction, durable, eflicient, easy tends downwardly below the lower surface of the 40 to operate, simple to adjust, and which will not member 3 some distance, as shown best in Fig. 1

readily deteriorate or get out of order. of the drawings. l

With these and other objects in view as will Secured in the lower end of the casing member appear hereafter, my invention consists of cerl in the enlarged portion I0 is the casing member tain novel features of construction and arrange- 2 which is provided with an upwardly extending 45 ment of parts and portions as will be hereinafter annular portion 2a which has a corrugated or described in detail and, particularly set forth in channelled inner surface 21), shown best in Figs. the appended claims, reference being had to the 1 and 3 of the drawings, which consists of alteraccompanying drawings and to the characters of nate ridges and grooves adapted to assist in the reference thereon which form a partof this apmixing of the fuel and intermixing it with the 50 plication, in which: air as will be hereinafter described. This por- 'Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view along the tion 211. is provided with an outwardly extending line I--| of Fig. 2 of my carburetor and gas genannular flange 20 which is adapted to fit against erator complete showing some of the parts and the flange I d and these flanges are secured rigidly 55, portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration; together by means of the bolts le. This casing member is provided with an inwardly and down-' wardly diverging wall 2d and with 'a verticalopening 2e for conducting the fuel mixture of air and gas to the intake manifold of the gas engine or for other use. The lower end of this portion 2e is provided with a flange 2 to facilitate its securing to the intake manifold of a gas engine or to a like conductor to any point of combustion.

Mounted in the fuel outlet portion 2e is a conventional butterfly valve 9 which is controlled from the. outside in the conventional manner for regulating the flow of fuel to the point of combustion.

Secured at the juncture of the portions 2d and lie of the casing member 2 are leg members 29 which extend upwardly and inwardly and support at their upper end a ball bearing cage 272, all as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Mounted in this cage 2h is a ball bearing 6a which forms the bearing for the rotor member 6, the rotor member 6 being provided with a downwardly extending annular lug portion 6b mounted within the roller bearing 6a. The rotor member 6 is a hollow cup-shaped member in which is mounted a fuel distributor spiral I, the lower edge of which is mounted in a spiral groove 60 which spiral starts near the center of the rotor 6 and extends in spiral form outwardly and terminates against the inner side wall of the rotor 6 at point 1a and the side wall of the rotor 6 is provided with small outlet orifices 60!, shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings, for thrusting the atomized fuel gas against thecorrugated surface 217 of the casing member 2 in the rotation of said rotor member. This spiral is divided by a plurality of radiating partitions 8 which extend between the "ifierent coils of the spiral and each of these radi ing members 8 is provided with a plurality 01 fall orificesthrough which the fuel or liquid must pass as it follows the spiral from the central portion outwardly with the revolution of the rotor.

Mounted on the upper side of the rotor 6 is a cover 69 which is provided with a central opening lie for directing the fuel or liquid to the central portion of the rotor. This cover member 6g is provided with an upwardly extending lug portion centrally therein iii in which is secured preferably by force fit the lower end of the spiral turbine 5. This spiral turbine 5 consists of an axle member 5a which is provided with a central longitudinal orifice 5b which serves as a conductor for the fuel or liquid and communicates at its upper end with the nozzle 4. Mounted on this axle 5a is a spiral which is secured thereto and extends practically a full circle around the axle 5a and fits in the portion Ia of the casing l leaving slight clearance at the periphery of the spiral 50, as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The axle 5a is reduced at its upper end at 5d and is supported in ball bearings 5e mounted in a recess in the bracket 3 and surrounding the nozzle 4. i

The operation of my carburetor and generator is as follows: Fuel or liquid is admitted to the carburetor through the orifice 3 from any source of supply and regulated by a valve in the conventional manner. Air is admitted through the openings 3h in the bracket 3 and passes downwardly into the casing l operated by the vacuum to the intake manifold or other conductor to a point of combustion. This air engages the spiral 50 causing the same to rotate depending upon the fiow of the air. This in turn revolves the axle 5a. and rotor 6 through the rotor cover 6g.

The fuel or liquid pass through the conductor 3-,f, nozzle 4, through the axle 5a and into the central portion of the rotor 6 through the orifice 6e where it istaken up by the inner portion of the spiral 1 with the rotation of the rotor 6 and circulated outwardly by the spiral to the outer portion of the rotor and passes outwardly through the orifice 6d and against the corrugated portion of the wall of the casing member 2 as hereinbefore described; it being noted that the fuel or liquid is broken up and atomized by passing through the orifices in the partitions 8 as well as the whirling motion caused by the spiral in its rotation. The whirling motion together with the construction of the spiral in the hermetically sealed rotor causes a partial vacuum in the rotor thus allowing the fuel or liquid to obtain its treatment without having any air intermixed and thereby permits greater breaking up before being mixed with the air stream. The fuel or liquid is taken up by the air in its passage between the outer edge of the rotor 6 and the inner surface 2b of the casing 2 and carried downwardly past the butterfly valve 9 and thence to the point of combustion.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the

construction and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patbine in said casing arranged to receive and distribute fuel from the periphery of said rotor.

2. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a casing, a spiral turbine revolubly mounted there-- in, a fuel conduit extending from the upper side of said casing downwardly through the axis of said turbine, a rotor of greater diameter than said turbine operatively connected with said turbine in said casing arranged to receive and distribute fuel from the periphery of said rotor, and a fuel atomizing spiral mounted in said rotor with its central portion communicating with the fuel conduit.

3. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a casing, a spiral turbine revolubly mounted therein, a fuel conduit through the axis of said turbine, a rotor operatively connected with said turbine in said casing ar'ififiged to receive and distribute fuel from the periphery of said rotor, a spiral mounted in said rotor with its central portion. communicating with the fuel conduit, and perforate partitions positioned in said spiral from end to end thereof.

4. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a

5. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a casing, a spiral turbine revolubly mounted therein, a fuel conduit extending from the upper side of said casing downwardly through the axis of said turbine, a rotor operatively connected with said'turbi-ne in said casing arranged to receive and distribute fuel from the periphery of said rotor, and a spiral mounted in said rotor with its central portion communicating with the fuel conduit, said casing provided with a corrugated surface in close proximity to the outlet opening of said rotor. 4

6. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a casing, a spiral turbine revolubly mounted therein, a fuel conduit through the axis of said turbine, a rotor operatively connected with said turbine in said casing arranged to receive and distribute fuel from. the periphery of said rotor, a spiral mounted in said rotor with its central portion communicating with the fuel conduit, and perforate partitions positioned in said spiral from end to end thereof, said casing provided with a corrugated surface in close proximity to theoutlet opening of said rotor.

'7. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a casing provided with a downwardly directed air conduit therethrough, a turbine mounted in said casing arranged to operate by the flow of air through said casing, a downwardly directed fuel conduit through said turbine, a bracket mounted in the upper inlet endof said casing provided with both air and fuel conduits therein, a fuel nozzle secured in said bracket and arranged to conduct fuel into said turbine conduit, a fuel distributing rotor of greater diameterthan said turbine mounted in said casing in secured relation with said turbine.

8. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a casing provided with a downwardly directed air conduit therethrough, a turbine mounted in said casing arranged to operate by the flow of air through said casing, a downwardly directed fuels conduit through said turbine, a bracket mounted in the upper inlet end of said casing provided with both air and fuel conduits therein, a fuel nozzle secured in said bracket and arranged to conduct fuel into said turbine, conduit, a fuel distributing 'rotor mounted in said casing in secured relation with said turbine, said rotor par-,

titioned with a fuel atomizing spiral with its one end positioned substantially centrally of said rotor and extending outwardly to the outer side' thereof.

9. In a cold gas carburetor or generator, a casing provided with an air conduit therethrough, a turbine mounted in said casing arranged to operate by the flow of air through said casing, a fuel conduit through said turbine, a bracket mounted in the inlet end of said casing provided with both air and fuel conduits therein, a fuel nozzle secured in said bracket and arranged to conduct fuel into said turbine conduit, a fuel distributing rotor mounted in said casing in secured relation with said turbine, said rotor partitioned with a spiral with its oneend positioned substantially centrally of said rotor and extending outwardly to the outer side thereof, a plurality of perforate partitions positioned throughout said spiral, and fuel outlet openings through thelperiphery of said rotor.

10. In a cold gas carburetor or generator, a casing provided with an air conduit therethrough, a turbine mounted in said casing arranged to operate by the flow of air through said casing, a

fuel conduit through said turbine, a bracket mounted in the inlet end of said casing provided with both air and fuel conduits therein, a fuel nozzle secured in said bracket and arranged to conduct fuel into said turbine conduit, a fuel distributing rotor mounted in said casing in secured relation with said turbine, said rotor partitioned with a spiral with its one end positioned substantially centrally of said rotor and extending outwardly to the outer side thereof, a plurality of perforate partitions positioned throughout said spiral, and fuel outlet openings through the periphery of said rotor, said casing provided with a corrugated surface in close proximity to the 'casing provided with an air conduit therethrough,

a turbine mounted in said casing arranged to operate by the flow of air through said casing, a fuel conduit through said turbine, a bracket mounted in the inlet end of said casing provided with both air and fuel conduits therein, a fuel nozzle secured in said bracket and arranged to conduct fuel into said turbine conduit, a fuel distributing rotor mounted in said casing in secured relation with said turbine, said rotor partitioned with a spiral with its one end positioned substantially centrally of said rotor and extending outwardly to the outer side thereof, a plurality of perforate partitions positioned throughout said spiral, and fuel outlet openings through the periphery of 'said rotor, said casing provided with a corrugated surface in close proximity to the periphery of said rotor adapted to receive the fuel from said rotor for mixing the same, the space between the periphery of said rotor 'and said corrugated surface forming a restricted passage for the air through said casing.

12. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a spiral air operated turbine, a rotor operatively connected therewith, and a fuel atomizing means in said rotor, said fuel atomizing means consisting of a spiral having its fuel receiving end approximately centrally of said rotor and extendproximately centrally of said rotor andextending outwardly therefrom to the outer side of said rotor, and a plurality of perforate partitions positioned in said spiral, a casing in which said turbine and rotor are revolubly mounted forming an air confining passage for said turbine.

14. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a spiral air operated turbine, a rotor operatively connected therewith, a fuel atomizing means in said rotor, said fuel atomizing means consisting of a spiral having its fuel receiving end approximately centrally of said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom to the outer side of said' rotor, and a plurality of perforate partitions positioned in said spiral, a casing in which said turbine and rotor are revolubly mounted forming an air confining passage for said turbine, said casing provided with a fuel spreading surface contiguous to the periphery of said rotor.

15. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a spiral air operated turbine, a rotor operatively connected therewith, a fuel atomizing means in said rotor, said fuel atomizing means consisting of a spiral having its fuel receiving end approximately centrally of said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom to the outer side of said rotor, 5 and a plurality of perforate partitions positioned in said spiral, a, casing in which said turbine and rotor are revolubly mounted forming an air confining passage for said turbine, said casing provided with a fuel spreading surface contiguous 10 to the periphery of said rotor, the space between said fuel spreading surface and the periphery of said rotor forming a restricted surface for the passage of air through said casing.'

16. In a cold gas carburetor and generator, a

spiral air operated turbine, -a rotor of greater diameter than said turbine operatively connected 

